How to get a COVID-19 vaccine — even if you can’t get an appointment

YOUNGSTOWN — My name is Jess Hardin, and I am a proud vaccine lurker.

What's a vaccine lurker, you ask? A somewhat savvy, in this case Ohio resident, who, like you, has been stymied by the various processes set up for scheduling vaccine appointments but still really wants one for each of her friends and family members and is willing to use the system to her advantage.

And guess what? I'm willing to share my secrets.

Here's the deal.

Each state has set up its own system for scheduling vaccines. We're reported extensively on how to sign up if you're eligible. You can find that information here.

But, in the last few months, vaccine providers have established informal processes for ensuring no vaccine doses are wasted. If you're willing to do a little legwork, you can probably get one, too.

Step 1: Get on a waiting list

Last week, I saw a tweet explaining that Ohioans can call their local Rite Aid pharmacies to sign up for a vaccine waiting list. These lists contain the people pharmacies call when they've finished their appointments for the day and have a few shots left over.

There are about six doses in each vaccine vial. And, because vaccine-eligible Ohioans are hedging their bets by making appointments at various providers, no-shows are frequent.

So, at the end of the day, there are often leftover doses, and they CANNOT be wasted. One method for avoiding waste is to keep a list of people vaccine providers can call at the end of the day.

I called my local Rite Aid in Boardman to ask about this. The employee said they, unfortunately, had to stop this practice, but that isn't the case at all locations. And, independent pharmacies — like Main Discount in Kinsman — seem to have a bit more leeway in using lists.

Waiting lists worked for Rick Stockburger, the 37-year-old CEO of BRITE Energy Advisors in Warren, who had registered for leftover shots at the Rite Aid along West State Street in Alliance. His number came up Tuesday evening, when clinic workers discovered a 10-dose vaccine vial actually contained 11 doses — a fairly common occurrence, state officials have said.

Clinic workers asked Stockburger to show up before 8 p.m. Tuesday, giving him an hour to get from Boardman to Alliance. It was a 42-mile drive and he had just 44 miles in his gas tank. "I can't stop" for gas, he remembered worrying.

Stockburger said he first arrived at the city's other Rite Aid on the east side of State Street, just three minutes until 8 p.m. — but realized that wasn't the pharmacy where he'd registered. He quickly made his way across town to arrive for the appointment right at 8 p.m., showed his driver's license and insurance card and was done in about a half-hour. Rite Aid workers scheduled his second shot for next month at his Tuesday visit.

Step 2: Show up

On Tuesday of last week, our weekend content extraordinaire Tom Williams went to CVS in Niles to get his shot. He signed up on the CVS portal.

His appointment was at 6:45 p.m. — the last appointment time of the day. A woman who had an appointment ahead of him showed up with two friends. Because the pharmacy had leftover doses at the end of the day, both friends were able to get one, despite not having had appointments.

Store manager Melissa Fuchel said the location initially started a waiting list, but it got too long to manage.

"But if there is one [dose] left over at the end of the night, because we go until 7 p.m., we just give it to whoever is here," she said. "we're making sure there are zero wasted."

I lurked at the Niles CVS pharmacy on Tuesday night to find out for myself.

At about 6:30 p.m., a woman — who declined to speak with me — walked in, saying she did not have an appointment. She waited until 7 p.m. and received a leftover vaccine.

"If people don't show up [for their appointments], some come back and hang around and see if there's any left," said shift manager Katelyn Rearic. "If not, and there's people in the store, we volunteer if they want it done and they schedule their second shot right then and there."

"Last night, we had five people just come in to shop and they all five got their shots," Rearic said.

So, if you're in the store at 7 p.m., you might get lucky.

She added people can also try to get same-day vaccine appointments at the Trumbull County Fairgrounds, if they show up between 8:30 a.m. and 11 a.m.

Step 3: Volunteer at a vaccination site

Youngstown City Health District Health Commissioner Erin Bishop said the department has offered volunteers the coronavirus vaccine in the past.

So far, the health department has mostly used nurses as volunteers. And since many nurses were eligible in the first phase, most volunteers have already been vaccinated.

But some people volunteer to sign people in or monitor people during the 15 minute waiting period after receiving the vaccine. She said people feel safer to volunteer at clinics after receiving the coronavirus vaccine.

"I think as they get perspective though they do a feel a little bit more safe coming [back to volunteer]," Bishop said.

Bishop said she hopes the department will receive more volunteers as more vaccine clinics open.

Especially as mass clinics open up throughout the state, call your local health department and see if they need volunteers. That could be your ticket to a vaccine.

If you have luck getting a leftover vaccine, I'd love to hear about it. Email me at jess@mahoningmatters.com, and good luck out there!

--Reporters Justin Dennis and Ellen Wagner and correspondent Tom Williams contributed to this report.

This story was originally published March 18, 2021 at 3:52 AM with the headline "How to get a COVID-19 vaccine — even if you can’t get an appointment."